I’ve been thinking about my earlier Nienna post and the connection between her and Gandalf. One of the things that stands out about Gandalf is his sense of humour, and in particular his enjoyment of laughing at himself. We see it at the Doors of Khazad-dûm; when he gives Merry an in-depth discussion of Saruman in response to a simple are-we-there-yet and Merry calls him on it; and plenty of other times. Indeed, one of the things he likes best about hobbits is their tendency to make it impossible to take yourself too seriously.
Humour, in the form of willingness to laugh at yourself, is the antithesis of pride, and pride is the root of most evil in Tolkien’s Legendarium. The characters who go bad in Tolkien’s works - Morgoth, Sauron, and to a lesser extent characters like Fëanor and Denethor - tend to be prideful ones who take themselves very seriously. Saruman, in the Unfinished Tales backstory, responds to Gandalf’s teasing with scorn and resentment.
So I’m trying to work through the connections between sorrow, compassion, humility, and humour. I think one of the things that the sorrow and compassion associated with Nienna gives to a person is “perspective”. In the words of the Valaquenta, “She does not weep for herself; and those who hearken to her learn pity, and endurance in hope.” Sorrow and compassion are tied to understanding how much larger the world is than you yourself, or the things/people/lands closest to you. It’s why Gandalf’s lack of fixed abode is so crucial to his escaping the failures of the other Istari - he values and seeks to understand everyone, not one realm. (This is made most apparent in two exchanges with Denethor, which could sustain a whole essay in themselves.)
And so it is the compassion associated with sorrow that produces a recognition of one’s littleness in the world, which frees a person from obsession with their own dignity and enables them enjoy laughing at themselves.
(This still feels rambly; there were some excellent additions to my Nienna post, so if anyone has something to add to this I’d be very appreciative!)
I’ve been thinking about my earlier Nienna post and the connection between her and Gandalf. One of the things that stands out about Gandalf is his sense of humour, and in particular his enjoyment of laughing at himself. We see it at the Doors of Khazad-dûm; when he gives Merry an in-depth discussion of Saruman in response to a simple are-we-there-yet and Merry calls him on it; and plenty of other times. Indeed, one of the things he likes best about hobbits is their tendency to make it impossible to take yourself too seriously.
Humour, in the form of willingness to laugh at yourself, is the antithesis of pride, and pride is the root of most evil in Tolkien’s Legendarium. The characters who go bad in Tolkien’s works - Morgoth, Sauron, and to a lesser extent characters like Fëanor and Denethor - tend to be prideful ones who take themselves very seriously. Saruman, in the Unfinished Tales backstory, responds to Gandalf’s teasing with scorn and resentment.
So I’m trying to work through the connections between sorrow, compassion, humility, and humour. I think one of the things that the sorrow and compassion associated with Nienna gives to a person is “perspective”. In the words of the Valaquenta, “She does not weep for herself; and those who hearken to her learn pity, and endurance in hope.” Sorrow and compassion are tied to understanding how much larger the world is than you yourself, or the things/people/lands closest to you. It’s why Gandalf’s lack of fixed abode is so crucial to his escaping the failures of the other Istari - he values and seeks to understand everyone, not one realm. (This is made most apparent in two exchanges with Denethor, which could sustain a whole essay in themselves.)
And so it is the compassion associated with sorrow that produces a recognition of one’s littleness in the world, which frees a person from obsession with their own dignity and enables them enjoy laughing at themselves.
(This still feels rambly; there were some excellent additions to my Nienna post, so if anyone has something to add to this I’d be very appreciative!)
“Today I must go on with the story, or the story must go on with me. Carrying me inside it, along the track it must travel, straight to the end, weeping like a train, and deaf and single-eyed and locked tight shut, although I hurl myself against the walls of it, and scream and cry, and beg God himself to let me out.”
It’s a three-way tie between Burn by Patrick Ness, Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, and Folk by Zoe Gilbert. Very different books but all absolutely engrossing.
Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020:
Not applicable. I’ve read two books this year that are the first in a series - namely The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill - but no sequels. The Cruel Prince just didn’t grab me enough, although I might still get to the next book eventually. I really need the other Tea Dragon books though because, wow, tea dragons are just the cutest things and if I can’t have a real one I at least need to read more about them.
New release you haven’t read yet, but want to:
It’s been out for a couple of months now, I think, but Highfire by Eoin Colfer looks like it’ll be a fun read! I’m a big fan of Artemis Fowl and his children’s books, so I’m interested to see how he approaches an adult audience. (Also, just in case you were wondering, not everything I read is about dragons, I promise.)
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:
I’m very intrigued by Susanna’s Clarke’s new novel, Piranesi. The labyrinthine house with infinite rooms and endless corridors sounds like a wonderful setting. It also seems as if it might be more manageable for me than Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, which I do want to read but is rather intimidating length-wise.
Generally speaking, I don’t really keep track of new releases though. Is that weird?
Favorite new author (debut or new to you):
I’ll say Zoe Gilbert here. Folk is a wonderful debut and I adore how atmospheric her writing is.
Biggest disappointment:
Probably Jeanette Winterson’s Frankisstein. It seemed like the kind of book I would love - I like Frankenstein, I like retellings, I like other things by Winterson - but in the end the weirdly fetishistic treatment of the trans main character overshadowed all the good points.
Biggest surprise:
Boring answer, but I can’t really think of any major surprises. I guess Snowflake, AZ by Marcus Sedgwick was a much more contemplative/ideas-based novel than I was expecting. I was anticipating something with more… plot, I suppose.
Book that made you happy:
I already mentioned this book above, but I often go back to children’s fiction when I need cheering up and wonderful The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill just left me with a great big smile on my face. It’s just such a warm, comforting story.
Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character:
Vivienne from The Cruel Prince by Holly Black was very enjoyable to read about. She’s the main character’s half-sister and doesn’t have a massive role, but I liked her more than the actual protagonist.
Burn by Patrick Ness has some great characters as well. I loved Sarah Dewhurst, Jason Inagawa, and Kazimir in particular.
Also, Albína Horáková, the landlady in Sarah Perry’s Melmoth, was not at all pleasant but a great character.
Favorite book to film adaptation you saw this year:
I don’t think I’ve seen actually any this year, apart from the Stargirl film based on the YA novel by Jerry Spinelli. Wouldn’t call it a favourite really. I loved the book when I was a teenager so I watched it on Disney+ while I was using up my free trial, but it was just okay really. There are a lot of movies dealing with the same themes in a more interesting way and, for me, it didn’t quite have the charm of the book.
Very much looking forward to seeing the new Little Women film and The Personal History of David Copperfield though, the latter especially just looks really charming and I do love Dev Patel (speaking of which, does Gawain and the Green Knight count?).
Most beautiful book you’ve bought or received this year so far:
Hamnet and Folk again. Just look at that gorgeous illuminated H! And the strong colours and the detail in the birds and leaves on Folk’s cover are just gorgeous!
Book you need to read by the end of the year:
I’ve been promising a friend that I’ll read Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo for ages now so definitely that.
Otherwise, I really need to read more non-fiction, especially around current events. I’m just hoping my ability to focus/concentrate will come back soon because it’s been absent for a while and I hate it.
Tagging: Um, anyone who wants to talk about books! If you see this and want to answer the questions then just say I tagged you. :)
“She could not explain in so many words, but she felt that those who prepare for all the emergencies of life beforehand may equip themselves at the expense of joy.”
It doesn’t make you unlovable or a horrible person if you don’t have many friends. It can be difficult to meet new people if you’re shy or quiet or have anxiety. It can be difficult to stay in touch with people if you can’t find the time or energy to remain in contact. It can be difficult to make new friends if you struggle to find people you click with or who are interested in the same things as you. None of those things mean you’re unlovable.
“We’re engaged now and setting out on the sea of life together in our little raft.” dude you’re both rich as Midas. you’re setting out together in a yacht, minimum
Increasing amounts of “per my last email” in letters between Husband and Father-In-Law discussing Wife’s income from the family fortune
Husband: “HAVE YOU HAD THE BABY YET I’M SO WORRIED I WADED THROUGH A FLOOD TO GET TO THE POST OFFICE”
Husband: “Get the baby a suit of armor or I’m sure to crush her with hugs when I get home”
Wife: “Teenage Daughter, could you send me my gold lamé turban?”
I sat there staring into space mouthing “what” for like a solid minute
I want to see this hat SO BADLY
Husband: “Son was firing his toy cannon at my office door, so I had to sally forth and valiantly seize the enemy munitions!”
Teenage Daughter: “My friend and I had our mutual admirer guess which of us had made which pudding to win a pair of gloves from one of us.”
Wife quotes Byron NONSTOP
Wife: “Fuck slave-owners and fuck the Missouri Compromise.”
Yes, they were abolitionists
Yes, they actually did treat their servants well and pay them fairly
Husband: “That old widow I rent to is behind with her payments, but don’t evict her because that would be inhumane, especially since it’s winter.”
Husband: “Wife, remember to wear your flannel petticoats to stay warm- and so I can take them off you when I get home.”
Also Husband, not paraphrased: “How close I should lie to you and how hard I should love you if I were there.”
WONDER WHY THEY HAD 11 KIDS
Husband: “On our tenth anniversary, I just wanted to say that you’re as beautiful to me as always and I love you the most that anyone has ever loved anyone else in the history of the world.”
Wife: “Hi yes I also love you the most that anyone has ever loved anyone else in the history of the world.”
Wife: “My handwriting sucks and I’ve burned three attempts at this letter already but HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS AWESOME TREE I SAW BESIDE THE ROAD YESTERDAY”
Husband makes so. many. puns. Help.
Wife: “Send two or three pounds of the best chocolate you can find, please.”
Husband: “We have ice cream with dinner every day here- don’t be jealous!”
Husband: “Young Adult Daughter, I wrote a poem about your rejected suitors. Here it is.”
Unfortunately I cannot remember the poem at the moment. But there was a part like, “And as for Frank Lyman/He’ll never be my man.”
Just roasting a bunch of young men with surnames you now see on Boston street signs
Here’s another mock book cover, this time for one of my favorite children’s books The Wind in the Willows. The stories feel like a series of pleasant vignettes to me, so I decided to feature a few different scenes on the cover.
